Mary Alice Healey Brown
1856 — 1886
[related to me by her sister Jane Healey Olsen, my mother.
(transcribed from hand-written original)
Mary Alice was the little known second wife of William Thomas Brown (Uncle Bill).]

When I used to sit at the side of my mother while I would be sewing or I may be doing some other work in the home, my mother would often tell me of my Aunt Allie Brown. Many times making comments of my life work also responsibilities in the home very much as Aunt Allies'. This may have given me deeper thoughts of her until when Healey histories were to be written, no one seeming to know anything of her life. I was at the time trying to collect and write our family's [histories] myself when the remark was made there was no history of Allie or picture of her. I made the remark I was afraid there was no picture that I had ever heard of but there will be a history for I will write it myself from memories related to me.

Since in fact [in] the year of 1956 among a box of letters of mother's, were [found] so many letters written by Allie dated 1881 – 1822 [1882??]. Very dim, but these letters have added to my many tho'ts [thoughts] of her early life of responsibilities, love, devotion to her family, also her witty sayings, the entertainments she had attended, of friends of those days. Many I had heard of, names I had known myself, till I am convinced she was very much tho't of . Also of her boy friends, also girl friends which she had attended entertainments with. [All] helping to furnish humor and happiness in these pioneer crowds.

Addition to the history

Mother often told me many interesting things of Aunt Allie, never realizing at the time that to be able to obtain a history of her short life I would, from [these] memories be the one to write these lines, so her history may be recorded.

Mary Alice Healey Brown was born September 1, 1856 in a log home [Alpine, formerly Mountainview, Utah] east of the Ward church, just about where the Edra McDaniel home now stands. This home was built before the Doby home was built, which was the Steve Moyle home. Allie, as [she] was called by all, was the 1^st born to James and Mary Carlisle Healey. Named after her mother's sister, Mary Alice Carlisle, Wilkins, Freestone.

It seemed as though from a little girl, Allie realized her responsibility in the home and to helping the family, being the oldest of the family. Grandma was never very strong, Allie took over the home work. From the time mother could remember, Allie would be working at something for the home, or scrubbing to perfection to keep the pioneer home clean. Then she wished to keep it as such. Many home tasks were completed by her.

Mother said the first quilts made in the home were made by Allie. I ask[ed] for a description of her. She was built somewhat heavier than the other girls, brown eyes, brown hair, ruddy complexion. From a young girl, she was one to voice her verdict of anything and final, but with kindness, consideration for young or old. This made her loved by all her family and friends. She had friends, but one more special than many others mentioned – Angelina Vance Clark.

I am sure because of her life with the many responsibilities and labors she became more quiet than other girls. The many remembrances of her will show that her short life was well fulfilled. She seemed to be prepared to take on her labors from day to day, which she did until she seen [saw to it] that the other girls were skilled to take over these home labors, she then left for Salt Lake to help pay taxes and purchase ground for grandpa's farm, also to finance the family affairs.

Because of her order and talent of sewing, and of home work she was able to obtain employment [and] also was loved by her employers. She forwarded [what does this mean? Did she send the money received back to them, or did she start the work other finished?] for Aunt Lizzie Beck and mother in many homes. She trusted her employers in association never having tho'ts of them but what they were as honorable as she was. I am sure her thoughts at all times were of virtue, and bringing happiness to others.

When the epidemic of Diphtheria became so terrible in Alpine, people becoming so frightened of it, and the Ephraim Nash family children were so ill with it [people would not help?]. This Nash family were in circumstances to pay for help, people were to[o] frightened to help, although money would be freely given. Allie never thought of the money but of these people needing help. She went into this home during the day giving assistance to these ill little children. Carrying first one and another, offering kindness and patience with them. When she returned to her family of evenings, with the odor of this disease on her clothes, tired from labors of caring for the ill, filled with sorrow over the suffering of these beautiful little girls, her family felt for her. Then seeing how sad she felt at the times these children's crys and pleading were hushed in death – she loved these little children, three beautiful little girls, and all little children, her family comforted her during her hours of sorrow.

She did care for many sports, dancing and amusements, but never thrilled as some. Maybe because of her position in life.

It was during my younger and home life I first became acquainted with Uncle Bill Brown, Allie's husband. I did ask him of her. He talked to me of her, Allie, and of his love for her. She worked for his wife Docia [Theodocia] Brown, I think toward the last at the time of her death. But Bill Brown, as she called him during those days, was an old tease and joker to her, till having her temperament as did, she was always at war with him – blustering at his wise cracks and smart speeches – till when he took it upon himself to pay visits to the home for business (also social calls) this put an edge on her feelings also.

When the family seen [saw], as they soon did, the true meaning of these visits and made the remark to her in joke and a warning to her, her remarks were, “Bill Brown can stay away from me!” When once he won her friendship, escorted her to places, she also having had many long rides with him, for Bill Brown drove one of the best teams of horses, [and] had the best buggy [and] was much better [off] financially. Again when her family said, “Allie are you going to be Mrs. Brown”? She answered, “If Bill Brown was the was the only man on earth, I wouldn't marry him!” But, Bill Brown never gave up until he won the love of this lovely girl, and when he did, it was love everlasting – the deepest kind of love.

After marriage, 11 March 1885, she fulfilled her duties as wife and homemaker, mak[ing] a life of happiness to her husband and the first wife's children. The two sons spent much of their time with Allie. Also the daughter spent some time at the home. Allie believed in order of home, and management of affairs of daily living. Uncle Bill said, “When I come into my home after [a] day's work, I would see the arrangement and order. Meals on time, go to the cupboard or drawer [and find] everything in uniform order – for I was not used to that, just an old farmer was I – I would think, 'Bill, this is good for you,' I never came into Allie's home without cleaning my feet.”

On one of the visits to my mother, he talked to me more than others of his Allie, often when making these visits, he talked to me of her. His reason for this I would rather not say. This time he said, “Girlie, she was my favorite wife.”

During [the time she] and mother [were] working in Salt Lake, as often as possible, they visited each other. Aunt Allie was a counselor to mother on many private affairs. Many [of] which have been related to me by mother. But after marriage, so close together, they were never able to see each other so often. Mother said they only visited together, for any length of time, once. How proud Allie was [and] also happy to know she became a mother. While washing windows, she fell, hurting her side during her pregnancy which hurt her at the time, but not having full-time [or necessary] doctor care, not knowing the dangers of this fall, it was forgotten until the birth of her baby, when it was tho't this fall may have played a part in her death. She died March 6, 1886 at the age of 29 yrs, 6 months.

She died leaving a brown eyed, brown haired baby boy resembling his mother very much. Aunt Martha visited Aunt Allie the day before her death and although she was very ill with fever and pains, she talked of doings of the day in humorous thoughts, to her mind. After her death, Aunt Martha cared for him [the new baby]. Those close to him see [saw] him thrive day by day, until it seemed his mother wanted him back with her. He took [that which] at that time was called, Inflammation of the Bowels. He passed away September 7, 1886. His birth was February 26, 1886.

I tried to obtain some history or items from the first wife's children's families.

Uncle Bill's first wife's son, Billy, said, “When father married Allie we thought we were going to have a mother now, but the Lord never let her stay long with us. She was a mother to me, I had kidney disease. When she married pa, she took me to Bro. Booth. He told her to get some herbs to cook and fix me some medicine, she did as he told her. Every day she gave me this medicine. She cured me. Well, the Lord never let her stay, we lost another mother. I sure loved my Allie mother.”

Mrs. Julia Knudson said, “Father spoke of Allie many times, always with respect.”